Combination chair and cot



Sept. 17, 1946. KEEST COMBINATION CHAIR AND 001 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 18, 1945 &

INVENTOR.

Haufi b28241 BY WAW A770 #51;

Sept. 17, 1946. I I F. KEEST 2,407,786

COMBINATION CHAIR AND COT File d June 18, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 engaging the back of the cover sheet of the back;

steep and winding Patented Sept. 17, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,407,786 COMBINATTON CHAIR AND Frank Keest, Urbana, 111. Application June is, 1945, Serial No. 600,139-

4 Claims.

1 This invention is a novel combined chair and cot or stretcher, particularly adapted for use in hospitals or the like, for carrying patients up and down stairs and around sharp corners; same the nature of a foldable chair in which the back and rear legs are formed consisting of a frame in integrally, the back having a cover sheet for patient; the combined chair and cot including front legs hinged to the rear legs at about the seat level and normally projecting forwardly and downwardly at an angle thereto, the front legs being adapted to be folded down substantially parallel with the rear legs; each of the rear and front legs being provided with rollers or casters, and the combined chair and cot including a seat hinged to the back and adapted, when used as a cot, to be swung down substantially into the plane of the means being provided for maintaining the seat and legs in normal chair forming positions, and for locking the front legs in position parallel with the rear legs when used as a, cot or stretcher.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined chair and cot which may be used for carrying patients, and in which the seatis pivotally swung into substantially mounted so as to be capable of being the plane of the back, when used as a cot; or while used as a cot the seat maybe raised at substantially right angles to the back to keep the patient lying thereon from sliding down off the same when carrying the patient down stairs or inclines; also when used as a chair, the patient may be carried down stairs; and into rooms or the like leading from narrow halls and into various diflicult places where non-foldable cots could not I readily be taken while carrying a patient.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one practical embodiment thereof to enable adopt andnsethe same; and will summarize in the claimsthe novel features of construction,

and novel combinations of parts, for which pro- 4 tection is desired.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of my. invention when the parts are in position for use as a chair.

Fig. 2 is a substantially the line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section on the line 3- -3, Fig. l. I V I is a perspective View of my invention others to horizontal section on when the parts are in position for use as a cot or stretcher.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on the line 5-5, Fig. 4. I r

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section on the line 66,Fig.4. My invention provides a combination chair as shown in Fig. l, and a cot as shown in Fig. 4, same comprising a substantially inverted U- shaped frame I preferably formed of pipe and having its top preferably rounded, as at la, the height of frame I corresponding withthat of an ordinary chair. The legs of frame I have bifurcated yokes 2 at their lower ends in which rollers or casters 3 are journalled on pins 4 or the like. The frame I constitutes, when the device is used as a chair, the back of the chair and the rear legs thereof, the same being formed integrally.

The legs of the frame I adjacent the rollers 3 are connected together by a cross member 5 to brace and maintain the legs in spaced relation. Above the cross member 5 is a rod 6 having its ends secured to the legs, the member 6 being for the purpose hereinafter described. Above the rod 6 at the level of the seat ofthe chair is a rod I (Fig. 5) extending through the legs of the frame I and upon which the seat is pivoted, as hereinafter explained. Between the legs of frame I above rod I are longitudinaland vertical strips 8 spaced a convenient distance apart, forming the covering, strips 8 being preferably formed of metal and having their ends bent around the frame legs and secured thereto by welding or otherwise. The vertical strip preferably has its ends secured to the lowermost cross strip 8 and to the top of the frame I, and is also secured to the horizontal strips 8 at their contacting faces. Projecting forwardly (Fig. 1) from the legs of frame I at the height 'of rod 1 are U-shaped clips 9 curved to fit theframe I, the rod 1 passing therethrough to rigidly lock the clips 9 in position; however, said clips may be rigidly secured to'the legs of frame I by welding or otherwise.

Between the legs of .each of the U-shaped clips 9 is pivotally mounted, as at of the front legs II, which are connected to- Y getheradjacent their lower end by cross bar I2;

the lower ends of the legs carrying bifurcated yokes I3 for front rollers I4 journalled inthe yokes on pins I5 or the like, said front legsbeing adapted to support the frame I in verticalposition when used as a chair, the legs II being also adapted to be swung on pivots I0 tolie substantially parallel with the legs of frame I. Legs II have hooks I6 (Fig. 6) pivoted thereon as at I] II], the upper ends pivots I'I. Links I8 and I9 are pivoted together as at 2|. ots 2|, and have detents Preferably links I9 extend beyond the 'p'i'v- I91) therein (Fig. 6)

adapted to engage offset knobs I80. (Fig. 6) on the links I 8 when the links I 8, I9 are aligned as in Fig. 1, to yieldably maintain the links I8, I9 in alignment when the front legs I I are in their extended position shown in Fig. 1. When, however, the front legs II are swung into parallel relation with respect to the frame I, the links I8, I9 will be folded as shown in Fig. 6.

The seat preferably comprises a rectangular frame 25 formed of metal strips, the rear end of the seat being hinged upon the cross rod "I and the seat fitting between the legs of'frame I and centered by means of spacing collars or the like so that when in cot forming position the seat may be swung downwardly from the position shownin Fig. l'to the position shown in Fig. 4, in which the seat forms substantially a continuation of the back cover strips 8 of frame I, the downwardly swinging movement of the seat, however, being limited by the cross rods 6. The frame 25 is preferably also covered with spaced strips 26 extending transversely and longitudinally, strips 26 being similar'to the strips 8 of frame I. Theseat frame 25 is held in substantially horizontal position shown in Fig. 1 by means of links 2'! having their rear ends pivoted on the pivots of the links I9. Links 28 are pivoted as-at Won the sides of the seat frame adjacent its outer end, said links 2! and 28 being pivotally connected together as at (Fig. 6). Links 27 overlap the links 28 when same are aligned, and links 27 are provided with detents 27a adapted to engage corresponding depressions 28a in the links '28 when the partsare aligned, as shown in Fig. the links so aligned, said construction being more clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 and Fig. 6. When, however, the links 21 and 28 are disaligned, the seat 25 maybe swung from the position shown-in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in which the seat' would be substantially aligned with the back strips 8 of frame I limitedby its contact with the cross bar 6. i

By the above construction .the device may be used as a chair for a patient when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. l, and the chair carrying the patient may be wheeled on the rollers 3 and I4 from place to place iinthe manner of an 1 to yieldably maintain ordinary wheelchair; or the front legs I .I and 7 seat 25 may be hinged downwardly into substantially the plane of the frame 1, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5., in which position the-frame -I may be 7 used as a cot or stretcher with the patient lying thereon. When so used, if it is necessary to turn sharp corners or toget into narrow :halls or other places into which thedevice when. used as :a cot can not readily enter, the seat 25'l'n'ay be raised and the front legs II swing outwardly to support the patient in a substantially sitting position, the

patient seated on the seat 25gand the-device with the patient hereon worked'throughjn'arrow spaces or sharp angles; or when descending stairs or the like used as a cot with'the patient thereon, {the seat alone may be swung upwardly into the posi- 4 tion shown in Fig.1 to keep the patient from sliding down off of the device used as a cot.

The device thus described is therefore useful in hospitals, funeral homes, airplanes, passenger coaches, automobiles, ships, or the like, and other similar uses for transporting patients from room to room and floor to fioor. The seat 25 may be raised or lowered independently of the front legs II to keep the patient fromssliding down on the device when used as a cot and when descending stairs. When used as a chair, it'forms a convenient means for carrying the patient down steep and winding stairs or around sharp turns, or for negotiating other dilficult places where an ordinary cot could not be so used. 1

I do not limit any invention to the exact form shown inthedrawings, for obviously changes may be made therein I claim:

1. A combined chair and cot, comprising a frame adapted to form the rear legsand back of a chair; a seat frame hinged to the frame and adapted to be swung from position substantially normal to the frame into a position substantially aligned therewit a front leg frame having its upper end pivoted on said first frame and adapted to be swung from a position substantially parallel withthe first frame-into a position inclined with respect thereto; means connecting the first frame and front leg frame for maintaining said front leg frame in inclined position; means for lock! ing the front leg frame in position parallel with within the scope of the claims.

the first frame; and separate means connecting strips; other spaced strips secured. .to ioppos'ite v sides of the seat frame; a U-shaped front. zleg frame of greater length than the height of the seat level having the upper ends of its legs'piv- :oted on said first frame,- said front leg :frame being adapted to be SWllng from :a position substantially parallel with the first .frame into .a position inclined with respect thereto; means-connecting the front leg frame and first .frame'for maintainingsaid front leg frame in inclined position; means for locking the front le'g frame in position parallel with the first frame; and separate means connecting the-seat frame and first frame for maintaining the seat .frame substantially normalto the first frame. 7 '3. A combined chair and cot, comprisingmn inverted U-shaped frame adaptedto form the rear legs and back of a chair; a red extending between the legs of the frame at the seat level; spaced back rest strips extending between .the legs above said rod; an open "seat frame "of Tless width than the distance between legs of the frame, said seat frame being hinged on said rod and adapted to be swung from position substantially normal to the first frame into "a position substantially aligned with the backrest strips; other spaced strips secured to opposite sides of the seat frame; U-shaped clips on the legs of the U-frame transfixed by the ends of the rod and naled in the lower ends of the frame;

Carrying pivot bolts; a U-shaped front leg frame of greater length than the height of the rod and having the upper ends of its legs pivoted on said bolts; said front leg frame being adapted to be swung from a position substantially parallel with the first frame into a position inclined with respect thereto; mean for maintaining said front leg frame in inclined position; means for locking the front leg frame in position substantially parallel with the first frame; and separate means for maintaining the seat frame substantially normal to the first frame.

4. A combined chair and cot, comprising an inverted U-shaped frame adapted to form the rear legs and back of a chair; rear rollers joura rod extending between the legs of the frame at the seat level; spaced back rest strips extending between the legs above said rod; an open seat frame of less width than the distance between legs of the frame, said seat frame being hinged on said rod and adapted to be swung from position substantially normal to the first frame into a position substantially aligned with the back rest strips; other spaced strips secured to opposite sides of the seat frame; U-shaped clips on the legs of the lb-frame transfixed by the ends of the rod and carrying pivot bolts; a U-shaped front leg frame greater length than the distance between the rod and rear rollers having the upper ends of its legs pivoted on said bolts; front rollers jonrnaled in the lower ends of the legs of the front leg frame; said front leg frame being adapted to be swung from a position substantially parallel with the first U-frame into a position inclined with respect thereto; means for maintaining said front le frame in inclined position; means for locking the front leg frame in position substantially par-- allel with the first frame; and separate means for maintaining the seat frame substantially nor mal to the first frame.

FRANK KEE'ST. 

